Score Analysis
Is 515 a Good MCAT Score?
A 520+ scoring MCAT tutor breaks down what a 515 means for MD and DO admissions, which schools match your score, and whether retaking makes sense.
515 is the 91st percentile, and it is the threshold where many premeds start considering their MCAT 'competitive for top programs.'
What 515 means in the applicant pool
515 to 517 puts you in the 91st to 94th percentile. This is the range where research-first MD programs and upper-mid-tier schools begin to treat your score as a clear positive. Your MCAT stops being a limiting factor at all but the most selective institutions. The T20 is a reach but no longer a long shot, and mid-tier MD becomes largely about fit, story, and essays rather than numbers.
MD acceptance odds at this score
AAMC Table A-23 aggregates three application cycles of real MD applicant data to map MCAT and GPA combinations to acceptance rates. At 515, the realistic range is roughly Roughly 65 to 80 percent with a 3.7+ GPA. 515 with a 3.7+ GPA has MD acceptance odds around 75 percent at matched-median programs. At 3.9+, the odds reach the top of the AAMC A-23 grid.
For DO programs, the acceptance picture is different because the DO matriculant average is 503 and the applicant pool is smaller. Expect roughly Roughly 85 to 95 percent (though most DO programs become unlikely fits narratively at this score).
MD schools to consider with a 515
Most of the non-T20 MD landscape opens up here, including the research-second private schools and strong state programs. A 25 to 30 school list targeted to upper-mid-tier and a few T20 stretches is a common approach.
Schools are grouped by how a 515 compares to their matriculant interquartile range. Target schools place your score inside the middle 50% of admitted students (roughly 25th-75th percentile). Reach and safety are sorted by the gap. The 25th/75th MCAT values are estimated from published medians using typical published IQR spreads; most schools do not publish their exact percentile figures.
Target schools (50)
Your 515 sits within the 25th-75th MCAT range of these programs.
+ 35 more MD target schools.
Reach schools (10)
Your 515 is below the 25th-percentile MCAT at these programs. Reachable if your application is strong elsewhere.
+ 2 more MD reach schools.
Stats-positive MD programs (58)
Your 515 sits above the 75th-percentile MCAT at these programs.
DO schools to consider with a 515
Every DO program is in range numerically. At this score, most applicants pursue DO only if there is a specific narrative or geographic reason, rather than as a backup.
Canadian MD programs
All Canadian MD schools are realistic with section balance. Western's 127-per-section requirement is the main constraint. McMaster only cares about CARS, so a 517 with a 131 CARS is an ideal McMaster application. Queen's, Toronto, UBC, Alberta, and Calgary all accept this range without issue. Dalhousie, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba are in play with in-province preference. McGill, Laval, Sherbrooke, Montreal, and Ottawa do not require the MCAT.
Canadian schools mapped to 515
How the 515 realistic school list compares
The section-split edge cases
The MCAT total tells only part of the story. Adcoms also look at section balance, and two applicants with the same 515 total can have meaningfully different realistic school lists depending on how that score was distributed.
Low CARS with a 515 total
A 515 with 122 CARS is a notable split that still interviews well at most US MD schools. McMaster closes. CARS-weighted US programs (Georgetown, Ohio State, Wake Forest) become borderline. Strong research backgrounds can offset at research-heavy T20s (Stanford, Johns Hopkins).
Balanced 515s are most common and read strongly. A 515 with 132/122/132/129 (one low section) attracts subsection attention at CARS-weighted programs or research-heavy schools depending on which section is low.
Low C/P with a 515 total
Low C/P (122 or 123) at this range usually reads as a stats or physics weakness. For physician-scientist tracks, it can matter. For most US MD admissions, the total score is what drives initial review.
Balanced vs. split profile
A balanced 515 (128/129/129/129) signals consistent performance and reads well for research-heavy schools. A peaked 515 (132/122/132/129) reads slightly less well for programs that value consistency, but the total still opens doors widely.
Should you retake a 515?
The median retake gain at 515+ is 1 point. For T20 target lists, a retake to 518 might be worth considering. For mid-tier and state MD, 515 is already comfortably competitive.
At 515 to 517, retaking is rarely the right call. The median retake gain at 515+ is only about 1 point according to AAMC data, and 1 in 4 retakers score lower. Only retake if your target list is dominated by T10 programs with 522+ medians and your 515 feels like an outlier below your practice average.
Before registering for a retake, run the numbers. Our MCAT Retake Calculator uses AAMC retake score-change data to estimate your realistic retake outcome based on your current score, practice average, and study time. It is free and takes under two minutes.
For a deeper framework on the retake decision, see the full Should You Retake the MCAT guide, and if your score is below your practice average, the MCAT Score Not Improving guide walks through the four error types that drive most plateaus.
Frequently asked questions
Is 515 a good MCAT score?
515 is the 91st percentile. It is in the 91st to 94th percentile, a strong score for most MD programs and a reach for the top 10. 515 is the 91st percentile, and it is the threshold where many premeds start considering their MCAT 'competitive for top programs.'
What medical schools can I get into with a 515 MCAT?
For MD, Most of the non-T20 MD landscape opens up here, including the research-second private schools and strong state programs. A 25 to 30 school list targeted to upper-mid-tier and a few T20 stretches is a common approach.. For DO, Every DO program is in range numerically. At this score, most applicants pursue DO only if there is a specific narrative or geographic reason, rather than as a backup.. Full named school lists for your score are in the guide above.
Should I retake the MCAT if I scored 515?
Only for T20 targets. The median retake gain at 515+ is 1 point. For T20 target lists, a retake to 518 might be worth considering. For mid-tier and state MD, 515 is already comfortably competitive.
What percentile is 515 on the MCAT?
515 is the 91st percentile according to AAMC data in effect May 1, 2025 to April 30, 2026.
Related scores
See all score-by-score guides in the full MCAT Score Guide, or check the complete MCAT percentile chart.